The rule proposal was released, the coaches were repulsed and that’s it, right? Wrong. Nothing is finished in the case of the controversial proposed change to the icing rule. Brian Sullivan reports on how we got to this point and what comes next.
The NCAA is getting tough on contact-to-the-head penalties and getting creative in an effort to promote scoring when it comes to other rules changes. Contact to the head will result in a major penalty and either a game misconduct or game disqualification under proposals by the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee unveiled Friday. The proposals … Read more
Derek Plante, a former All-American at Minnesota-Duluth, has joined his alma mater as an assistant coach. He replaces Steve Rohlik, who left for a similar position at Ohio State. Plante was enshrined in the Minnesota-Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 after a collegiate career that finished with a national-best 92 points in 1992-93. He … Read more
Wisconsin’s early departures had been contained to its talented defensive corps this offseason, but the offense appears set to take a major hit. Leading scorer Derek Stepan will sign with the New York Rangers on July 1, the New York Post reported. As a sophomore, he topped the Badgers’ scoring chart with 54 points in … Read more
Damon Whitten will join Michigan Tech as an assistant coach following two years as the director of hockey operations at Michigan State, his alma mater. Whitten, a former assistant coach at Wayne State and Alaska-Anchorage, replaces Chris Tok, who became the head coach of the Austin (Minn.) Bruins of the NAHL. “I am excited to … Read more
Another element of finality has come down in the decision to remove the Fighting Sioux nickname from North Dakota. Licenses to sell apparel with the Fighting Sioux logo will expire on June 30, 2011, and will not be renewed, according to a memo from the group responsible for licensing for the university. Licensing Resource Group … Read more
Brendan Smith and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday made official what has been known for some weeks: the Wisconsin defenseman is leaving school a year early to play in the pros. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason Smith signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings almost three years after being selected … Read more
A Minnesota-Duluth recruit faces a charge after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Chris Stafne was charged with fifth-degree domestic assault, the Duluth News Tribune reported. He was booked in the St. Louis County (Minn.) Jail on Tuesday and later was released. A court order was filed Tuesday ordering Stafne not to have contact with the … Read more
Wisconsin has hired Gary Shuchuk and Bill Butters as assistant coaches. The Badgers had to fill both full-time assistant positions this offseason after Kevin Patrick left to lead the new Muskegon team in the USHL and Mark Osiecki took over at Ohio State. Shuchuk, the 1990 WCHA player of the year, helped the Badgers to … Read more
Former Bemidji State coach and CHA commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters will have the rink at the new Bemidji Regional Event Center when it opens in the fall. Robert H. Peters Rink will be christened Oct. 15 when Bemidji State’s men’s and women’s teams open play at the $60 million, 4,000-plus-seat arena. Peters coached the Beavers … Read more
Harold Paulsen, the first coach of a reborn Michigan State program in 1950, died Tuesday in Mankato, Minn., the Mankato Free Press reported. He was 91. Related link: Harold Paulsen coaching history Paulsen played for Minnesota from 1938 to 1941, captaining the team in his final season. He helped the Golden Gophers win the AAU … Read more
The NCAA men’s and women’s ice hockey rules committee gets this chance only once every two years, so there’s a little more emphasis to get it right. In the next month, leading up to and through the committee’s meeting June 8-11 in Indianapolis, the dialogue about potential rules changes will lead to debate and then … Read more
Mark Osiecki has filled out his coaching staff at Ohio State by hiring Steve Rohlik as associate head coach and keeping Steve Brent as assistant coach. Rohlik, Osiecki’s roommate at Wisconsin when the pair teamed up to win the 1990 national championship, has been an assistant coach at Minnesota-Duluth for 10 years. Brent has spent … Read more
Defenseman Chay Genoway, a third-team all-WCHA selection last season even though he played only nine games, will return to North Dakota on a medical hardship waiver. Related link: With Genoway Back, is North Dakota the Favorite? Genoway suffered a concussion on Nov. 13 and did not return to the Fighting Sioux lineup the rest of … Read more
Wisconsin defenseman Cody Goloubef has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving up his final year of eligibility. Goloubef had 14 points and was plus-13 in 42 games as a junior for the Badgers. Related link: Early departures in 2010 offseason He was the Blue Jackets’ second-round pick, No. 37 overall, in the 2008 NHL … Read more
Ohio State announced on Saturday that former Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach Mark Osiecki, 41, has been tabbed as its head coach for the 2010-11 season, replacing 15-year coach John Markell. “I think Johnny right before me did a great job,” Osiecki said. “I don’t think anybody, including myself, would have looked at [Ohio State’s] program … Read more
NCAA runner-up Wisconsin has two players on the All-USCHO First Team, a set of awards determined by USCHO staff writers and editors at the conclusion of the Frozen Four. Maine’s Gustav Nyquist is a first-team selection (photo: Melissa Wade). Forward Blake Geoffrion, the Hobey Baker Award winner and USCHO’s national player of the year, and … Read more
You’re not often going to find a forward who’s fourth on his team in scoring and still skates away with the Hobey Baker Award. With Blake Geoffrion, it’s about the intangibles. Related link: Blake Geoffrion Game-by-Game The senior was a motivator and a driving force for Wisconsin on its road to the Frozen Four. He … Read more
It was an interesting idea, but when it took place, having the Frozen Four at Ford Field just didn’t work out, Dave Starman writes.
A look at this Boston College senior class’ success in the postseason, and other notes. Chris Lerch reports.